|
|
Audioholics Featured Reviews
Up one level
|
Can you get a $2000 processor for just $700? Emotiva is betting you can. It's new UMC-1 7.1 processor combines some of the more advanced A/V processing you'll find into a package that is hard to beat.
|
Yamaha RX-A1010 A/V receiver is a solid offering that emphasizes audio quality and hosts all the latest networking features. This review explores the RX-A1010 features and performance capabilities.
|
Recently Reviewed
Acer H6500 DLP Projector Video Review
Andrew Gash
— last modified May 23, 2012 07:39
Now before you start to think about all the reasons why a front projector may not be the best solution for you, let's take a look at this model, the Acer H6500. It's a 1080p DLP projector with 2100 lumens and it only costs $899. Given that you can pick up a starter screen for around $300, or even roll your own, that's a bright 100" display for $1000 or so. Where are you gonna find that kind of value in a flat panel TV? The H6500 lacks some home theater functions that might be important to you, like advanced video processing and auto-iris. At the same time it's ultra-portable, super-bright, and puts out a beautiful picture. It doesn't have lens shift or much zoom on the lens, so you're looking at a tabletop or ceiling mount installation. A rear shelf probably won't work. We think the H6500 is a great solution for those looking for a living room system - an inexpensive TV killer. If you want only the best, then keep shopping, but expect to pay a lot more as well.
The Pioneer SE-MJ591 Stereo Headphones are, hands down, the best sounding earphones I've ever had the pleasure of testing. The imaging is phenomenal and rivals my experiences with $20k a pair electrostatic speakers. The sound quality is rich and vibrant and, if you are anything like me, you'll start rediscovering your music collection. They are designed for both critical listening and portability, making them perfect for multiple applications. While they'll reveal all the flaws in your poorly recorded/encoded music, they'll also reveal all the beauty in the high-quality recordings. I didn't find them very comfortable to wear, though you may feel differently. At $300, these aren't inexpensive headphones but, if you care about sound quality, you'll likely feel it is money well spent.
Season of the Witch Blu-ray Disc Review
Scott A.
— last modified May 17, 2012 16:46
From a distance, the trailers and marketing materials announcing Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch indeed looked promising and perhaps beyond mildly entertaining – sure, the title shared the subhead of the 1980s franchise-breaker Halloween III: Season of the Witch, starring the great character actor Tom Atkins, but the clips of the film from pre-release shots and teasers suggested hyper-aggressive demons, CGI-endowed werewolves a la Van Helsing and some butt-kickin’ crusaders from the middle ages era doing justice the only way they know how. A couple of issues abounded, though – first of all, I didn’t see Nicolas Cage in this kind of film or role, but from what I gathered, he needed a quick payday due to some personal and financial issues. Alas, his performance in this justifies my reservations, as his dialogue delivery and overall presence just seems way out of place.
AirPlay has been a technology we've been extremely impressed by. If you're in the apple ecosystem it's bound to be a part of your life if you're buying current AV products and love the idea of streaming music wirelessly. Logitech just released their first AirPlay-enabled speaker, the Logitech UE Air Speaker. The UE is Logitech's abbreviation of a company they purchased back in '08, called Ultimate Ears. The Air Speaker, which looks like the business end of a Hammerhead shark, is pretty cool-looking, with minimal buttons and an integrated iPhone/iPod dock that retracts into the base when not used.
DISH released it's iOS and Android Remote Access apps some time ago. To be perfectly honest, they got the job done, but didn't offer much in the way of stability or efficient use of the platforms. Now, DISH has completely reengineered the iOS app to take advantage of the iPad's larger screen - and also to address multi-tasking and ease-of-use. The new (and still free) app improves the performance and enhances the on-screen dashboard so customers can easily find and watch their favorite programs. Customers can continue to watch live and recorded TV anytime, anywhere using the app in concert with an Internet-connected DISH receiver and a Sling Adapter. On the iPad, DISH offers the added ability to stream thousands of titles from an expansive on-demand library of Blockbuster @Home titles and premium networks.
We try to stay on top of products that would appeal to the custom installer, and Furman's new line of "SmartSequencers" are a great addition to its Contractor Series products. There are two new products, the CN-1800S (15 amp capacity) and the CN-2400S (20 amp capacity). These SmartSequencers are designed for commercial A/V installers and they combine AC power distribution, protection, filtration, and sequential system power on/off. They also offer an optional compatibility with Panamax/Furman's BlueBOLT hosted remote power and energy management platform. The CN-1800S and CN-2400S feature Furman's SmartSequencing technology, which allows large and complex A/V systems to be powered on and off safely with the simple press of a button or turn of a key, even by nontechnical personnel.
Are the Sonomax PSC-250 Sculpted eers the best ear-buds I've tested? Yes. By far. Of course, that's a short list right now. But even when comparing them with my full sized Denon AH-D1000 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50 headphones, the Sonomax come out on top. They may not have the flattest frequency response, but they have a very full and rich sound and is a joy to experience. The molded earpieces means that you've got a set of earbuds that are tailored just for you and, paired with the earhooks, will take an act of extreme violence to get them off your head. If you are looking for high-end audio even when working out, check out the Sonomax PSC-250 Sculpted eers. You won't be disappointed.
The XL7F’s are a three-way, four driver, floorstanding loudspeaker system from a relatively unknown Canadian manufacturer. At around $1k/pair, they’d seem to be a pretty good deal from their specs on paper. But imagine our surprise when we realized they actually cost under $500/pair delivered to your door with a lifetime warranty! In tough economic times, it’s always refreshing to find bargains to help fellow budget-minded Audioholics reach their goals of sonic nirvana. While the Fluance XL7F’s don’t represent the pinnacle of loudspeaker technology compared to some price-no-object systems, they get about as close to that goal as any floorstanding speaker in this price class and arguably even a good amount more. If you’re looking for an attractive, well put together floorstanding speaker that will give you plenty of bass and good sound on the cheap, give these babies a try. Highly Recommended!
For almost 19 years, Bose has been successfully marketing their Wave Radio Music System. Over the years, they've added new features such as a CD player, and alarm functionality and even color options. Today when we logged into the Audioholics Facebook page we noticed a post from Bose linking to their "new" Wave Music System III along with the following quote "It’s not a makeover … more like a make better. Bose Wave music system III." We were interested to determine whether or not any audio enhancements have been made to this unit, so we opened up a chat window with a friendly Bose support staff member to get the scoop.
Pro Reviews
The following sub-folders are contained in this folder:
View All Articles in Pro Reviews
|
http://www.audioholics.com
|
